The Katy Texas Blog That Never Runs Dry

Katy Home Sellers: How You Can Help Your Home Appraise, Part Two

Julie Q. Fuelling — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:55:13 +0000

In May 2009, a new law, The Home Valuation Code of Conduct, or HVCC, became law. One of the main rules prohibits mortgage brokers from ordering appraisals directly from, or having any contact with, a licensed real estate appraiser.

Also, a lender cannot approach a an appraiser with relevant information, such as comparable sales. Lenders are forced to use third-party appraisal management companies who oversee all aspects of the appraisal process.

Valuation may come in low due to an out-of-area appraiser who is totally…to read the rest of my article, see OnlyKaty.com.

Katy Home Sellers: Facing an Appraisal? Be Prepared! Part One

Julie Q. Fuelling — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:19:26 +0000

Inflated appraisals, valuing homes far above their true market value, contributed greatly to the residential real estate collapse. In backlash, the pendulum has now swung in the opposite direction and it can be hard to get a Katy home to appraise for the sales contract price.

Standards are now so strict that the lender and appraiser are not supposed to communicate directly. Historically, appraisers used comparable…

Read my entire article at OnlyKaty.com.

Katy ISD Redistricts Southside High Schools

Julie Q. Fuelling — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:38:58 +0000

Article courtesy of KISD website:

On Monday, February 22, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved the administration’s recommendation to modify the attendance boundaries for Seven Lakes, Cinco Ranch and Taylor High Schools. Only the neighborhoods listed below are impacted by this Attendance Boundary Modification.

Grandfathering and Volunteer Enrollment Option

Under the recommendation approved by the Board, all current high school students are grandfathered to stay at their current campus through graduation. In addition, the Board approved a recommendation to provide families impacted by the Attendance Boundary Modification a one-time Volunteer Enrollment Option (VEO), which would allow those students grandfathered to remain at their current high school to instead choose to move to the new high school. See the Volunteer Enrollment Option webpage for more information.

Note: Students who are currently enrolled in high school this year are grandfathered to continue at their current school for the remainder of their high school career. No action is required to continue enrollment at the current school.

Sibling Transfers

Katy ISD recognizes the importance of family involvement with and connection to their child’s high school. Therefore during the boundary modification process of Spring 2010 younger siblings will be allowed a sibling transfer to the high school that an older sibling currently attends so long as the siblings will both be in high school at the same time. If you live in a Land Use Zone (LUZ) that is being moved from Seven Lakes High School to Cinco Ranch High School or from Cinco Ranch High School to Taylor High School. See the Sibling Transfer webpage for more information.

Neighborhoods impacted by ABM (Click here for map.)

LUZs Moving from Cinco Ranch to Taylor

LUZ 66 Highland Trails
LUZ 66 Kelliwood Enclave
LUZ 66 Kelliwood Gardens
LUZ 66 Kelliwood Lakes
LUZ 66 Kelliwood Place
LUZ 66 Kelliwood Trails
LUZ 66 Lake Forest
LUZ 66 Lakes of Buckingham
LUZ 71A Alexan Downs Apart.
LUZ 71A Kelliwood Pointe
LUZ 71A Kelliwood Terrace
LUZ 71A Willow Park Greens
LUZ 71B Meadow Ridge
LUZ 71C Park Hollow
LUZ 71C Park View

LUZs Moving from Seven Lakes to Cinco Ranch

LUZ 76C Bayou Crossing
LUZ 77A Fairways at Kelliwood
LUZ 77A Greens at Willowfork
LUZ 77A Kelliwood Greens
LUZ 77B Arbor at Willow Fork
LUZ 79B Canterbury Village
LUZ 79B Meadow Glen
LUZ 79B Residences at Cinco Ranch
LUZ 79B South Park
LUZ 79B Summer Point
LUZ 79C Canyon Gate
LUZ 79C Cinco Ranch RV Park
LUZ 79D Estates at Willowfork Greens
LUZ 79D Kelliwood Greens
LUZ 79D Kelliwood Park
LUZ 79F Saddlebrook Crossing
LUZ 79G Park Trace

Katy Homebuyers: Hurry Before Mortgage Rates Rise!

Julie Q. Fuelling — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:11:30 +0000

Katy neighbors: Shopping for a home? About to start house hunting? Now is better than later! Mortgage rates are destined to rise in the near future. Predictions are that rates may go up to 6% by April. While this sounds high, please remember it is still very low considering historical data. When I started selling Katy real estate in 1989, interest rates were barely below 20%!

Normally, I don’t write articles explaining why rates are fluctuating. If you are like me, you just want to know what the rate is today. However, a recent change will raise rates and we will also probably see them continue to increase in the future.

Read my entire article at OnlyKaty.com.

Katy Realtor Earns Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification

Julie Q. Fuelling — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:35:09 +0000

A short sale is a transaction in which the lender, or lenders, agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner.

Recently, I earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS^® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS^® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

REALTORS^® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS^® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan.

“Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR^® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS^® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

For assistance with a short sale, foreclosure or any other residential real estate issues, feel free to contact me at 713-818-2404.

7th Annual Katy Preschool Fair Coming This Weekend

Julie Q. Fuelling — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:27:48 +0000

Katy moms are you looking for a preschool or mother’s day out program that is up to your standards? The MOMS Club of Katy–SE. TX has your solution!

They are sponsoring their 7th Annual Katy Preschool Fair on Saturday, January 23rd from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon. The event will be held at Crosspoint Community Church located at 700 S. Westgreen.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with several preschools at once. Bring your questions and compare the answers you get from those you interview. With this information you will be able to make an informed decision.

Each school in attendance is required to bring a donation for the Katy’s Pregnancy Help Center in order to receive a half table to showcase their school. Admission is free for anyone who wants to attend.

Donations of baby supplies (diapers, wipes, etc.) are greatly appreciated and will be collected at the event to benefit Katy’s Pregnancy Help Center. All attending guests are
encouraged to donate, but not required. For more information e-mail: momsclubkaty@gmail.com.

For information about all Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

Fulshear’s Firethorne Announces Record Year

Julie Q. Fuelling — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:29:42 +0000

Firethorne sold 238 new homes in 2009, achieving a record high for annual sales for the Katy/Fulshear residential development. Last year’s home sales represent a 16.6 percent increase over 2008 (204 homes). The previous record for the four-year-old development was 218 sales in 2007. The 1,400-acre master-designed community is located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor.

“We’re very pleased with these figures,” noted Firethorne General Manager Wayne Meyer. According to Meyer, Firethorne has been holding its own thanks to continued growth in the Katy and Fulshear areas and for being part of one of the greatest school districts in the state. “BP America and Conoco/Phillips have relocated employees here, plus three major Houston hospitals are expanding in this area — two under construction and one on the drawing board,” he noted.

Firethorne has sold a total of 918 homes project-to-date. The Firethorne builder team consists of Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Parkwood Builders, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Plantation Homes and David Weekley Homes.

Firethorne is attractive to the Houston relocation market with its proximity to the Energy Corridor, location in the top-ranked Katy Independent School District, and availability of estate-sized lots typically found in the country with all of conveniences of master-designed recreational amenities, such as state-of-the-art technology and nearby shopping, retail, dining, entertainment, schools and medical facilities.

The community features 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, resort-style swim center, sports fields, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. It’s where the vibrancy of West Houston meets the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. Take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, go to www.firethorne.info, or call 281-693-1011.

For information about Firethorne and all Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

More Cinco Ranch Apartments Announced

Julie Q. Fuelling — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:50:36 +0000

Fifteen-and-a-third acres, located at the intersection of Katy Terrace Drive and Hwy 1093, have been purchased to build apartments in the master-planned community of Cinco Ranch.

According to The Houston Business Journal, Judwin Realty Group LLC has acquired the land. “Judwin’s Jerry Wionograd says the firm is finishing plans for the 316-unit complex.”

Judwin hopes to break ground in the second or third quarter of 2010.

The Houston Business Journal reports, “Houston-based Judwin, which was founded in 1963, owns more than 13,000 apartment units in Texas and Georgia.

For information about Katy area homes, you can search the entire Houston MLS from this blog. For questions or to tour any area homes, contact me directly at 713-818-2404. I have specialized in Katy real estate for over 20 years. Experience does count!

Katy Commuters: Get Ready for a Mid-Sized Hassle Leading to a Whole Lot of Relief

Julie Q. Fuelling — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:33:21 +0000

Okay, we will have to suffer the nightmare of more construction on I-10 to enjoy the results.

I have a personal interest in the following story as the commute to my office, Keller Williams Realty Katy in the Villagio center, entails exiting I-10 West to enter the Grand Parkway S, SH 99. It’s a hassle on a non-congested day, always the most time consuming section of my journey. Lots of my Katy neighbors share my frustration as evidenced by the inevitable delay.

Andy Meyers, Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 3, announced that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will begin construction of ramps on and off I-10 at the intersection of the Grand Parkway. This should bring considerable relief to Katy commuters.

TxDOT received funding for two direct connectors (ramps) one going from SH 99 E onto I-10 and the other going from I-10 W onto SH 99. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-2010 and will take 18 months. Traffic signals at that Katy intersection will be re-timed to accommodate the direct connectors.

The nightmare at Fry Rd and the Grand Parkway adjacent to HEB is being addressed. ” This is one of the most congested intersections in all of Fort Bend County,” according to Myers. It also impacts property values; when showing Katy real estate in this area, potential Katy home owners often shy away from buying immediately adjacent to this traffic mess. This can negatively impacts Katy home sellers in Grand Lakes West and Seven Meadows. Buyers always comment on the inevitable congestion.

A year-long study was conducted to find a solution to this growing problem. There are no simple answers. For starters: The traffic signal at the Grand Parkway and Fry Rd. is controlled by TxDOT. The traffic signal in front of HEB on Fry Rd. was installed by HEB. The red-light at Fry Rd. and Seven Meadows Blvd. was installed by the county. No wonder there are policeman directing traffic in front of HEB!

For details of this year long report and attempted solutions, some made permanent, to the Fry Rd./Grand Parkway problem read the entire report at SevenMeadowsLive.com.

Katy Prairie Conservancy to Host Annual Bird Count

Julie Q. Fuelling — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:20:48 +0000

The 34th annual Cypress Creek Christmas Bird Count will be held on Friday, January 1st. Each year dozens of bird-watchers, both inexperienced and seasoned, venture out onto the area’s prairie remnants, farms, creeks, and wetlands to catalog the remarkable and dazzling bird life of the Katy Prairie.

Katy Prairie Conservancy will lead a group of Christmas Bird Count participants on an expedition to record birds on the area’s diverse preserves. Katy Prairie Conservancy anticipates that this year’s count will be as exciting as ever with opportunities to potentially see or hear Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Bobwhite Quail, waterfowl, and over one hundred other species.

If you’d like to assist with the count this year please contact Jaime Gonzalez at 281.660.6683 or by email at jaimegonzalez72@gmail.com.

Date: Friday, January 1, 2010 from 6:00 AM – Afternoon

Location: Meet at KPC Field Office

What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own water and insect repellent.

Registration required. Call 281.660.6683 or email us at jaimegonzalez72@gmail.com for more details.

Price: $5 per participant